Swimming pool cover

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a floating cover for a swimming pool adapted to protection of a water-filled pool from dirt and debris, the retardation of evaporation, the conservation of chemicals placed in the water, and the protection of children and others who might inadvertently fall into the pool. It is characterized by a sheet of impervious material supported around its periphery by a raised inflatable tubular segment, the whole cover free-floating and unattached to the pool sides but fitting snugly against the sides so as to afford the above protections.

United States Patent (72] Inventor Eugene H. Pmey 6202 E. Calle Camelia, Scottsdale, Ariz. 85251 [21 Appl No 674,690 1221 Filed Sept. 1,1967 [45] Patented Aug. 24, 1971 [54] SWIMMING POOL COVER 6 Claims, 2 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 4/l72.l2

(51] lnLCl Y i 4. 1204113119 [50] FieldofSeu-eh 4/172,172 C, 172 VM lS6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,883,676 4/1959 Kwake.... 4/172C 3,313,443 4/1967 Dial et al 4/172 C X 3,330,118 7/1967 Biais 4/172C X 3,366,977 2/1968 Koehler 4/172 C FOREIGN PATENTS 911 945 4/1959 Great Britain. 4/172 C Primary Examiner- Henry K Artis ABSTRACT: This invention relates to a floating cover for a swimming pool adapted to protection of a water-filled pool from dirt and debris, the retardation of evaporation, the conservation of chemicals placed in the water, and the protection of children and others who might inadvertently fall into the pool. It is characterized by a sheet of impervious material supported around its periphery by a raised inflatable tubular segment, the whole cover free-floating and unattached to the pool sides but fitting snugly against the sides so as to afford the above protections.

SWIMMING POOL COVER This invention relates essentially to the improvement of existing methods of covering swimming pools and similar large containers for liquids by utilization of a peripheral inflated tube to support a recessed sheet of impervious material, all of which floats on the surface of the water or liquid independent of exterior attachment.

The common problem of protecting the water in a swimming pool and the chemicals which have been added to it from evaporation of aerial dissipation and protecting against the entry of foreign materials is met effectively by the snug union between the inflatable tube and the pool sides to which it readily adapts itself upon inflation. Foreign materials, such as dirt and leaves, that fall upon the cover are retained as a result of the raised, inflated periphery. This provides another unique function of the invention in that it may be removed from the pool without spilling dirt and debris into the pool. Accumulations of rain water may be evacuated before removal of the cover by use of the same small reversible pump which is used to inflate the tube portion.

Another object of the invention is to provide support for any child or adult who falls upon it, preventing possible drowning or even wetting. The support provided by the inflated peripheral section and the hydrostatic pressure of the water upon which it rests is ample for this purpose without necessity of attachment to anchors or stationary supports on the side or deck of the pool. The absence of exterior .gltachment greatly facilitates the placement and removal of the cover and lessens its cost of installation.

A further object of the invention is to permit a partial deflation, enabling one side or end of the cover to be doubled back on the other part without actual removal from the pool. This permits temporary use of one end of the pool without the time and effort of complete removal. Reinflation again causes it to adapt to the pool contour without manual moving or effort.

A further object is to permit heating of the water so as to permit swimming in Spring and Fall by action of the sun on the impervious sheet and the curtailed evaporation. This would not occur so readily where the impervious sheet does not rest directly upon the water.

Briefly, then, its advantages over existing covers are (1) its ease of installation and use because there is no need for exterior attachment and the peripheral tube readily adapts itself upon inflation to the pool contours for which it is tailored, (2) its ease of removal after partial deflation without permitting accumulated dirt and debris to enter into and pollute the pool, (3) the possibility of partial uncovering of the pool for limited use, and (4) the warming effect that results from location of the cover directly on the surface of the water.

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a swimming pool cover which embodies the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on angle 2-3 of FIG. 1 showing in detail a portion of the inflated peripheral tube and attached impervious sheet in transverse cross section.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, a kidneyshaped swimming pool is shown, including vertical walls, the top of which is indicated at 4 and a portion of which is seen at 5. It is filled with water 6 and a curbing sloped outwardly from it to form a nearly horizontal top edge or outward extension of the pool wall. This curbing or top edge of the pool wall juts inward slightly 8 over the interior of the pool at its juncture with the pool wall.

The pool cover embodying the present invention 9 is made from a strong, flexible sheet material, impervious to liquid, such as polyethylene or vinylidene chloride. Attached to the peripheral portion of the sheet in an airtight manner is an inflatable flexible member 10, impervious to air and water, which shall be referred to as the border tubing. As an altemative to such independently attached member, the border tubing may be formed from the sheet itself by doubling upward the edge portion and attaching the free edge to the adjacent portion of the sheet by a seam formed with heat or adhesive. The border tubing is equipped with a valve which communicates with the interior so as to permit inflation of the tube. The valve may be designed so as to easily release the compressed air when deflation is desired, or it may have a separate vent at another location with an attached cap which can be opened for more rapid evacuation of the compressed air. The border tubing may also be divided into two or more separate compartments or air chambers by means of one or more interior walls attached at right angles to the tubing by an airtight seam, in which case each compartment or chamber must be equipped with a valve to permit inflation and a vent for deflation. Division of the border tubing into multiple chambers will cause the cover to maintain its buoyancy in the event of accidental puncture and deflation in one area of the border tubing, as inflation of some only of the compartments of chambers is adequate to provide such buoyancy as is needed for the cover's purposes.

The cover may also incorporate an inflatable member 11 of the same material and circumferential dimensions as the border tubing, which member is attached to the upper surface of the sheet 9 along its latitudinal axis and at right angles to the border tubing. lts interior may open into the border tubing at both ends and create a common airspace with the border tubing, or it may constitute a separate compartment or chamber in which case it must be provided with a valve and vent for inflation and deflation. This inflatable member 11 will be used where the dimensions of the pool to be covered are large or extra buoyancy is otherwise desired.

The border tubing and latitudinal member, if used, may be of any suitable diameter. However, a diameter of 6 inches has been found to be satisfactory for the purposes intended.

When a cover, pretailored to pool size, is in place on a water-filled pool, with the inflated tubing 10 upward and above the sheeting 9 to which it is attached, it may be readily seen that the flexible sheet rests directly upon the surface of the water in its entirety. The buoyancy provided by the hydrostatic pressure of the water below, added to that provided by the border tubing 10, serves to prevent immersion of the cover even when considerable weight is placed upon it.

It may also be readily seen that inflation of the border tubing will cause it to conform to the inner edge of the pool for which it is tailored, adhering snugly thereto because of its flexible nature and the pressure of the air'within It will be marginally sealed against the entrance into the pool of water, dirt, leaves, or other debris. The recessed character of the cover that results from the raised border tubing will catch and retain such water, dirt or debris. Accumulated water may be evacuated from the recessed surface by means of a siphon or small pump, and a partial deflation will permit ready removal of the cover from the pool without spillage so that dirt and debris can be washed away in an area removed from the pool.

While many of the inventions purposes and advantages are illustrated and described in the foregoing, there are varied modifications which can be made of the basic invention through the proper application of skills. The embodiments described and shown hereinabove are by way of example, and the true spirit and scope of the invention may embrace modifications in form, construction, arrangement of parts, or application without material departure from the appended claims.

I claim the following:

1. A swimming pool cover for effecting a continuous and sealing contact between itself and the pool side at water level by means of a peripheral inflatable tubing, made of a flexible air and water impervious material, attached on its underside to a sheet of a similarly impervious material resting directly upon the surface of the water in a relatively taut posture, the total having a predetermined outline which conforms substantially to the shape of the pool to be covered, the peripheral border tubing forming such sealing contact and the impervious sheeting becoming relatively taut upon inflation of the tubing by injection of air through a sealable valve, without other tie or connection between the cover and the pool edge, buoyancy being provide by the inflated tubing and the hydrostatic pressure of the water on whose surface it rests.

2. A swimming pool cover as claimed in claim 1 wherein said inflatable border tubing includes a valve or vent for rapid deflation of such member.

3. A swimming pool cover as claimed in claim 1 wherein said inflatable border tubing is divided or segmented by means of perpendicular internal walls of the same material attached by airtight seams, each resultant chamber or segment of the border tubing being equipped with an air intake valve and vent for inflation and deflation, with resulting maintenance of buoyancy even though puncture of one segment or chamber occur.

4. A swimming pool cover as claimed in claim 1 wherein a further inflatable tubular member of the same material and dimensions as the border tubing is attached to and above the impervious sheet, perpendicular to the border tubing and making connection therewith at both ends so as to form a cross rib, the interior air space uniting with the interior airspace of the border tubing or else constituting a separate sealed compartment so as to require inflation independently of the border tubing, inflation in either case adding some rigidity and buoyancy to the cover.

5. A swimming pool cover as claimed in claim 1 wherein said inflatable border tubing comprises a means of effecting tight union between such tubular member and the sides of the pool to which it is adapted, because of its attachment along a seam located at the inner bottom of such inflated tube to the peripheral edge of said impervious covering sheet, permitting the border tubing to roll inward upon the top edge of such covering sheet when there is constricting pressure from the sides of a slightly smaller pool, or permitting the border tubing to roll and expand outward and away from the edge of the covering sheet upon inflation to make contact with the sides of a pool where the pool is slightly larger than the cover.

6. A swimming pool cover as claimed in claim 1 wherein the entire extension of said cover sheeting rests directly upon the surface of the water at all points so that the heating effect of the sun's rays striking the sheet may be conducted directly to the water beneath. 

1. A swimming pool cover for effecting a continuous and sealing contact between itself and the pool side at water level by means of a peripheral inflatable tubing, made of a flexible air and water impervious material, attached on its underside to a sheet of a similarly impervious material resting directly upon the surface of the water in a relatively taut posture, the total having a predetermined outline which conforms substantially to the shape of the pool to be covered, the peripheral border tubing forming such sealing contact and the impervious sheeting becoming relatively taut upon inflation of the tubing by injection of air through a sealable valve, without other tie or connection between the cover and the pool edge, buoyancy being provide by the inflated tubing and the hydrostatic pressure of the water on whose surface it rests.
 2. A swimming pool cover as claimed in claim 1 wherein said inflatable border tubing includes a valve or vent for rapid deflation of such member.
 3. A swimming pool cover as claimed in claim 1 wherein said inflatable border tubing is divided or segmented by means of perpendicular internal walls of the same material attached by airtight seams, each resultant chamber or segment of the border tubing being equipped with an air intake valve and vent for inflation and deflation, with resulting maintenance of buoyancy even though puncture of one segment or chamber occur.
 4. A swimming pool cover as claimed in claim 1 wherein a further inflatable tubular member of the same material and dimensions as the border tubing is attached to and above the impervious sheet, perpendicular to the border tubing and making connection therewith at both ends so as to form a cross rib, the interior air space uniting with the interior airspace of the border tubing or else constituting a separate sealed compartment so as to require inflation independently of the border tubing, inflation in either case adding some rigidity and buoyancy to the cover.
 5. A swimming pool cover as claimed in claim 1 wherein said inflatable border tubing comprises a means of effecting tight union between such tubular member and the sides of the pool to which it is adapted, because of its attachment along a seam located at the inner bottom of such inflated tube to the peripheral edge of said impervious covering sheet, permitting the border tubing to roll inward upon the top edge of such covering sheet when there is constricting pressure from the sides of a slightly smaller pool, or permitting the border tubing to roll and expand outward and away from the edge of the covering sheet upon inflation to make contact with the sides of a pool where the pool is slightly larger than the cover.
 6. A swimming pool cover as claimed in claim 1 wherein the entire extension of said cover sheeting rests directly upon the surface of the water at all points so that the heating effect of the sun''s rays striking the sheet may be conducted directly to the water beneath. 